Chapter 243 Tanchun's Grievances
A maid in the room helped Tanchun to explain, "The third young lady is a good girl. She has been in charge of things these days. What is wrong with her?"
Baoyu said again, "She is the one who has her own calculations in mind, she is just being obedient."
Tanchun has always been the closest to Baoyu. Although she has the intention of pleasing Mrs. Wang, she is really good to Baoyu. Not only does she help Baoyu with needlework on weekdays, but when the sisters have something to do, she knows that Baoyu likes to play, so she will also let Baoyu have fun together. However, she never thought that in Baoyu's heart, she is actually like this.
Being backstabbed by the person closest to her was a feeling that almost broke Tanchun's heart.
Therefore, she didn't know how much grievance she had in her heart. Now, all the sisters in the mansion saw that Baochai and Daiyu were just about to have a bright future. Everything was decided by Jia Cong. Yingchun and Xichun were also backed by Jia Cong, and Baoqin was even Jia Cong's recognized sister. Although Xiangyun was not necessarily close to Jia Cong, she was doted on by the old lady.
And her only brother not only failed to support her , but also thought of her like this. How could she not be sad?
Today, she once again encountered the old woman in the mansion who obviously wanted to make fun of her and laugh at her. She almost wanted to cry.
Daiyu took Tanchun's hand and comforted her, "Sister Bao, what you said is not right. Since Third Sister is the housekeeper now, you must follow the old calendar and Third Sister's rules. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a joke for the servants?"
Xiangyun also stepped forward and said, "Miss Lin is right. Besides, Third Brother is the best to us. If Third Brother were here, how could he not support Third Sister? If those women dare to do something to us sisters, Third Brother will never let them off easily."
The sisters were talking to Tanchun in the room for a long time before the old woman brought over the old accounts.
Tanchun and the others looked through it for a while, then sneered and said, "Only the relatives of my family get 40 taels, and the relatives of my aunt get 20 taels. After my second sister-in-law cleaned up the house, you also followed her to manage the household. How dare you tell me you don't understand?"
"You are just bullying me because I am young and a bastard. I have no right to be a steward here. You only want to see me make mistakes and make fun of myself."
Just at this moment, Aunt Zhao rushed in angrily.
Baochai, Daiyu and Xiangyun were still sitting there, so Yingchun quickly stood up and asked Aunt Zhao to sit down.
"Why is Auntie here?" Tanchun said, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Aunt Zhao screamed, "It's fine if everyone in this room steps on my head. Miss, you should also think about it and help me vent my anger." As she spoke, she burst into tears. Tanchun hurriedly said, "Aunt, who are you talking about? I don't understand. Who stepped on Aunt's head? Tell me and I will help you vent your anger." Aunt Zhao said, "Miss, if you step on me now, who will I tell?" Tanchun heard this and hurriedly stood up and said, "I dare not."
Aunt Zhao said, "I have worked so hard in this room for so many years, and I have you and your brothers with me. Now I am even worse than Xiren. How can I still have the face to be like this?" Tanchun sighed and said, "So this is why. I said I didn't dare to break the law or violate the principles."
While sitting next to Aunt Zhao, he took out the curtain and showed it to Aunt Zhao, "This is the old rule handed down by our ancestors, and everyone follows it. Why should I change it? I was disappointed several times recently because of Aunt's constant troublemaking. If I were a man and could go out, I would have left long ago and established a career. Then I would have my own reasons. But I am a girl, and I don't have the right to say a word. Now I am taking care of the housework, and I haven't done a good thing, but Aunt comes to humiliate me first." As he spoke, he couldn't help but burst into tears.
"You still think you're right?" Aunt Zhao scolded relentlessly, "Your uncle is dead, so even if you get a few dozen more taels of silver, who can say anything? Are you so sarcastic? This is not your money."
Tanchun sobbed and said, "Which one is my uncle? My uncle has just been promoted to Minister of War, where does another uncle come from?"
Aunt Zhao, however, refused to give in and continued to yell and make a scene in the house. There were maids and old women watching the show in the yard, and Tanchun was so angry that she couldn't stop crying.
All the sisters tried to persuade her, but they didn't know what to do.
At this moment, a sharp voice came from outside, "I am here to serve the third lady under the order of the master."
As soon as he finished speaking, first Xiao Xichun ran in with Xiao Que'er, and then Jia Zhong, the chief steward of the East Palace, walked in.
"Meet the Third Miss, meet Miss Bao, meet Miss Lin, meet Miss Yun, and meet the masters."
Looking at the astonished crowd, Jia Zhong said, "Before the master left, he told me that if the Third Lady ordered me to do something, I would obey her. I have been negligent these days and I deserve to be punished!"
As he said this, he slapped himself hard twice.
"Please tell me what to do about today's matter, Third Miss!"
Daiyu heard this and whispered something to Tanchun, who wiped away her tears, bowed and said, "Thank you, butler. Since my third brother has given the order, you can handle today's matter."
Who doesn’t know that Jia Zhong came from the palace and is best at this kind of thing?
"Then I have overstepped my boundaries!" Jia Zhong was not polite either. Jia Cong had indeed given some instructions before, but after all, it was not appropriate for him, the chief steward, to always come here to take care of the affairs of the West Mansion. Today, Xiao Xichun went to look for Xiao Que'er, and Xiao Que'er looked for him, so he hurried here.
Now that I'm here, I naturally have to help these three girls establish their authority.
"Bring in that troublemaker!"
Then, a eunuch came in dragging the old woman.
"The master has long ago ordered that if anyone in the mansion dares to cause trouble or disrespect the ladies, they will all be severely punished! Today, Zhang, the old woman, spread rumors and instigated the concubines in the mansion, and even dared to punish the master. She will be beaten with thirty sticks and thrown out of the mansion as a warning to others!"
After he finished speaking, Jia Zhong bowed to Tanchun and asked, "Does this treatment suit the Third Miss's taste?"
Tanchun couldn't help but hesitate, for she knew that people like her third brother could kill a person with a dozen strokes of the stick. If they really beat him with thirty strokes, the person would probably be dead.
"Third sister, this is your face and also Cong'er's face!" Baochai said in a low voice.
Hearing this, Tanchun gritted her teeth and said, "Take him away and beat him!"
Jia Zhong waved his hand, and the eunuch pulled Zhang Pozi away. A moment later, a crackling sound was heard in the yard.
Not long after, the eunuch came in and reported, "Miss Three, the old woman couldn't bear it anymore and has died!"
Jia Zhong glanced at Daiyu and Baochai, and then directly ordered, "Take him out and bury him. Don't leave him here to bother the girls!"
Then, Jia Zhong called , and another maid came in, "Third Miss, this eunuch and maid will be temporarily under the command of Third Miss. No matter what happens, just tell them what to do."
